Camellia japonica Blood of China

Camellia japonica 'Blood of China' is a fairly old variety of Japanese camellia that is vigorous with an upright but compact habit. This beautiful shrub offers beautiful flowers in a brilliant salmon-red colour, with crumpled petals around a bright yellow stamen center. They are well highlighted by dark green glossy foliage that remains attractive throughout the year. Its large semi-double flowers are arranged regularly like certain peonies or even certain roses. The moderate growth, tidy habit, and vibrant colour of this camellia allow it to be grown in a large pot on the terrace or balcony for many years, bringing a lot of joy to the surroundings of the house while the garden is still asleep.

Camellia japonica 'Blood of China', sometimes encountered under the names 'Victor Emmanuel' or 'Alice Slack', is a variety discovered in the early part of the last century in the USA. It belongs to the family of tea plants, just like its ancestor Camellia japonica. It is a bushy and compact shrub with a rounded habit and deep root system, which will reach about 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) in height and 90 cm (35.4 in) in width after 10 years. At maturity, after 15 to 20 years, it can reach 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in height and 1 to 1.5 m (3 ft 4 in to 4 ft 11 in) in width, under good growing conditions. From March to May, depending on the climate, it offers numerous semi-double flowers, quite large, with crumpled petals of perfectly organised orange-red colour around a cluster of yellow stamens. Its foliage, which persists in winter, is composed of large elliptical, leathery, dark green and glossy leaves on the upper side. While this shrub is hardy down to -15 °C (5 °F) in open ground, its flowering may be compromised by snow, freezing wind, and temperatures below -5 °C (23 °F).

Camellia japonica 'Blood of China' thrives in mild and humid climates and flourishes in coastal regions, in acidic, humus-rich, and well-drained soil. In terms of exposure, it will tolerate full sun in favourable climates, such as in Atlantic regions, but it will give its best in partial shade, protected from scorching sun and sheltered from strong winds. In the garden, for example, you can plant it in a shrub bed, along with other acidophilous plants like Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Cornus Kousa, or even Kalmia Latifolia. But it would be a shame to drown this variety in a tangle of foliage or flowers. It deserves a special place, near the entrance of the house, or in a beautiful pot on the terrace, to be stored away during the winter in cold climates.